Whether you’re anticipating a move or a vacation, life is full of choices, and Nashville presents an abundance of activities from which to choose. Nashville, aka Music City, offers unique family fun and soulful country tunes. From youth to the elderly, Nashville extends a hearty welcome with plenty of adventure and fun to all.
What are the best things to do in Nashville with a small child? Nashville’s scene has a rhythmic pulse that’s experienced in the music and seen in the movement of the Cumberland River snaking through the city. The best spots to visit tend to pick up that beat, both outdoors and in.
So, take to the city—there’s even a treat beyond—for welcoming experiences, like notes to a new song you’ll always love. Here’s learning by doing—sights from above and some underwater fun, adventure, musicality, play, and sweet new rhythms for the young at heart
The following activities include experiential learning, sensory activities, movement, adventure, beauty, and fun.
This prelude serves as your introduction: grab some seats on the hop-on hop-off double decker bus that winds through town in perfect tempo. Next, walk the Cumberland Bridge for sweeping Nashville views.
Both experiences paint expectant grins, adding some beat to your step and a sense of direction.
Indoor Activities
Taylor Swift Education Center at the Country Music Hall of Fame is a worthy introduction and celebration of music, with exhibits and awesome kid-friendly interactions.
Take note of Elvis’ gold-plated Cadillac, Smokey and the Bandit’s fantastic Firebird, stars’ performance outfits, beloved instruments, posters, videos, and more, all while the kids anticipate the fun ahead at the Taylor Swift’s Education Center.
Enter stage right, to find stimulating interactive stations for children. Why not record a song in their ‘very own’ recording studio and play with instruments at the musical ‘petting zoo’?
Kids won’t forget the ‘wet’ classroom experiences: design and make concert posters and art, try on costumes, learn notes and lyrics, and everything ‘Taylor’ that’s possible to see, do, and hear.
Let Taylor Swift help you plan your trip. Just a click away, pre-order Young Explorer Bags for kids ages 2-7 and older kids with sensory needs. Each bag is chock full of items to make and use, and, yes, kids can take their bags home.
Bags are also available on a first-come basis from 10AM-4PM, select days of the week. Also, early morning and late afternoons are least busy.
Cumberland Science Museum presents permanent and traveling exhibits, a planetarium for stargazing, special events (primarily for adults), and a plethora of kids’ activities that typically run from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.
Pick and choose among makerspaces, live science shows, even explosive chemistry demonstrations (taken to the front lawn, of course).
The museum’s directors advocate science for everyone, and it shows: the museum accommodates mobility, sensory, hearing, financial, and other needs.
Adventure Science Center, brings youth and adults exploration and discovery adventure. As part of the Science Museum, exhibits cover an amazing array of science-related experiences.
Embark onto the virtual International Space Station, learn if you were born to be an astronaut.
The Vapor Vortex, Surge of a Tsunami, and Anatomy of an Earthquake are separate exhibits, but can you guess their connection?
Take a trip up the Adventure Tower, have a blast, and ponder that question and your next adventure.
Staff-led experiences expand your vision, and accessibility is a priority, reflecting its sister museum’s accommodations. Check out the gift shop for cool scientific memorabilia.
SOUNDWAVES is a rain-or-shine water park where indoor fun spills out of doors—or vise-versa! Wherever you begin, plan to get wet.
SOUNDWAVES GAYLORD OPRYLAND RESORT is like a musical splash park, but it’s a resort. If you choose accommodations, there’s packages for one or more nights with SOUNDWAVES privileges for up to a week, privileges that extend even if you book a short resort stay.
SOUNDWAVES is open to the public while you are staying elsewhere depending on the day’s traffic. Wristband passes limit privileges for non-resort guests, however.
Guest wristbands are your ticket to “chill or thrill’ that you’ll call a wildly fun dream vacation. Surf indoors, hang out in the wave pool, or take in a movie on the huge LED screen.
Where but Nashville would you find Quarter Note Cove? Dedicated to children, this shallow multi level pool combines short slides and sprays of water, perfectly suited for children.
Altogether, there’s kid’s pools, a lazy river, rapid rafting river, and a whopping 11 different water slides. Slide in Serpentine’s complete darkness and spin down the centrifugal tubing bowl. The activity pool with rock climbing will not disappoint.
Outdoors, open May through early September, presents (drum roll, please) Beat Drop.
Riders drop through a heart-beating quick trap door to plunge into a (near-vertical) tunnel and land onto a water slide. What a crescendo! There’s a racing activity, a kids’ multifunction pool, tidal pool with sandy beach, and more.
Trained lifeguards keep watch in and outdoors, though an adult must accompany young children. There are adult-only pools, and amenities like food, cabanas, and lockers available for resort guests.
Nashville Children’s Theater, this older-style traditional American Children’s theater prompts you to bet most productions include music. In addition to children’s shows featuring adult professionals, check out their Internet site for at home drama exercises.
New to town? Note their summer camp for older children.
This oldest continuously performing nonprofit is obviously dedicated to children and families. The theater is a precious glimpse of Nashville’s giving and creative spirit.
Cornerstone’s Indoor Playground at Cornerstone Church, a veritable labyrinth of play equipment, is free and fun! While closed at the time of this writing, limited scheduled children’s outdoor activities continue.
Meanwhile, you will soon be able to walk in through the church’s main lobby and elevate up to Cornerstone Kids. An adult must check in and supervise (first, grab a coffee from the shop in the lobby).
The playground–all five levels–is a climbing nirvana. Separated into two playgrounds called Playscapes, play areas are divided by age, and little tykes 3 years and under play in a lively gated area located across from the big kids’ playscape, further separated by a wall of windows.
This engineering foresight helps if you have kids of varied ages; accompany the tots with a birds eye view of older kids.
What keeps kids engaged? There’s slides, rolling, bouncing, climbing, large contraptions for pretend play, peek holes, various props to play in and with, and more. This is a great spot for expending energy, particularly if you’re planning a night of Grand ‘Ole Opry, if you know what I mean.
Outdoor Activities
Cheekwood and the Children’s Garden presents a fairy tale setting untouched except by nature’s beauty, Children and their elders who’ve ever dreamed a fairy tale ending will find enchantment in the architecture and the artistry of Cheekwood’s many gardens.
There’s a train for tots, Tuesdays for Tots, Thursday Nights Out, a story house, and seasonal decorations. Cheekwood is the perfect setting, too, for taking pictures of the kids.
Lucky Ladd Farms, located a half-hour south of the city is well worth the drive. Plan ahead, and take note of weather conditions (check the hotline or Facebook) as ‘Ag-Venture Farm Fun Park’ is closed during inclimate weather. Physical accessibility can be challenging due to gravel, dirt, and straw grounds. Because tickets are limited, it’s best to buy online.
Fall brings pumpkin picking in the patch and getting lost in the corn maze. All-season family-friendly fun reveals the petting zoo’s cows, goats and sheep, llamas and alpacas, and a variety of fowl, 
hungry creatures always thankful for a handout! Watch the donkeys and pigs, though, as these snippy beasts can get overly excited and bite a little finger.
The horses (and miniatures) love affectionate attention, too.
Experiences include pony and wagon rides, a barrel train, mega slides and tunnel slides, rubber duck races, tricycle races, a tire climbing wall, splash pad for the very little ones, a bubble blast, and oh, so much more.
This fun requires some sweet energy, and Lucky Ladd is prepared with refreshing treats for sale! Next, stop by their educational exhibits and check out the store for one-of-a-kind country ware. What an experience, particularly for city-folk who long for a little country fun!
SOAR NASHVILLE caters to those looking for family-friendly cool climbing structures with plenty of challenge levels. SOAR takes reservations, and it’s appropriate for all ages (with limits on some aerial obstacle courses).
There is a bucket swing, a barral walk, wooden tunnel, pole climbing, and more. Because safety is the park’s #1 priority, all climbers are tethered by rope harnesses with an added buckled tether.
If these activities make your heart skip a beat, miniature golf awaits. Otherwise, there’s more!
This is Nashville; expect an ensemble of activities. Four height levels take climbers 15’ to 45’ above ground. Swing, climb, balance, jump, (or play miniature golf at ground level). Yes, even the mini-golf is a blast.
SOUNDWAVES (see indoor activities)
This entertaining city is a must-see for families and youth. Residents intuitively recognize this jewel and are proud to share every brilliant corner. Take time to admire all Nashville has to offer.
As promised, you can see some of these venues and more to assist you in planning; take a virtual visit of Nashville here.
